Bird migration across the Mississippi River Flyway will begin in September as birds begin to migrate south through St. Louis to their winter nesting grounds. WashU is a program partner to the Lights Out Heartland campaign, which obligates us to show leadership by example and spread the impact through outreach.
St. Louis is the fifth most dangerous city for bird migration in the spring and the sixth most dangerous in the fall. WashU has made many improvements to make our campus inviting to birds, but reducing nighttime lighting continues to be an area where we can make adjustments—both during the migration months and as permanent changes for more optimal nighttime lighting that balances human and animal safety.
During this time, please consider the following:
- Turn off non-critical lighting, both exterior and interior that can be seen through windows
- Close blinds to keep night-time lights inside and reduce the risk of early morning glass collisions
- Spread the word: the WashU community can take this information to their own homes for a larger impact
If you have any questions, please contact Heather Craig, Sustainability Coordinator.